Locals endure conditions and cut

May 10, 2008|CURT RALLO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- On Blackthorn's No. 18 (the ninth hole at the Hooters golf event), former Marian High and Notre Dame golfer Cole Isban took off his shoes and socks and stepped into water to hit a ball that rested about one inch from the water. If Isban tried that just a few hours later, after a warming sun disappeared and a biting wind kicked in, he might have needed treatment for hypothermia. A pleasant, sunny day turned bitter for golfers who drew the afternoon tee times, as conditions once again created a hazard for golfers in the Orion Group Golf Classic benefiting the Life Treatment Centers at South Bend's Blackthorn Course. Play continues today, with the first group teeing off at 7:30 a.m. The championship round is Sunday. Former Kansas star Kevin Ward, though, managed to not only survive Blackthorn Friday afternoon, but made it a day to remember. Ward fought the tough conditions to tie a course record by shooting a 65, a score that propelled him from 19th place after a first-round 70 into first place with a 70-65 -- 135 (nine-under). Ward has a one-stroke lead over Matthew Harmon of Grand Rapids (68-68 -- 136) and Shawn Stefani of Baytown, Texas (66-70 -- 136). Three golfers with local ties made the cut as the field was trimmed to 60 (including ties). Isban and former Clay High School stars Adam Darrow and Jeremy Wilkinson each shot a 70 on Friday. Isban is two-under at 72-70 -- 142, Wilkinson is one-under at 73-70 -- 143, and Darrow is even at 74-70 -- 144. Matt Blair of Rolling Prairie just missed the cut by one shot and finished with a two-day total of 72-74 -- 146. Ward wasn't the only golfer to tie the course record on Friday. Andrew Stephens shot a 65 in the morning and finished with a 78-65 -- 143 to survive the cut. But Ward, still basking in the glow of witnessing his beloved Kansas Jayhawks win the national championship in basketball, also delivered a second-half rally to remember against considerable odds. "On the front nine, I kind of got off to a little bit of a rough start, but then all of the sudden, the birdies started coming and I was fortunate enough to make an eagle," Ward said. "I just hit the ball. It was one of the best ball striking rounds I can ever remember." Ward shot a six-under 30 on the front nine, then the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped. Ward attacked the back nine rather than back off because of the conditions, and his aggressive play worked to his advantage. "This course is suited for my game," said Ward, who now lives in Austin, Texas. "I grew up on big-grass greens in Kansas and this is more of the weather I'm used to. I like playing golf in the midwest. We played in the south earlier this year, and the Bermuda was a little tough for me to get acclimated to, but now that we're playing big grass, I feel I have a little bit of an advantage." Isban, who hit an amazing shot from the water to birdie the ninth hole, could have shot better than his 70, but suffered some tough putting breaks. "I played pretty well," Isban said. "I made two bogeys, and then just had a couple of nasty lip-outs for birdie on the back nine. I really should have been around 67 or 68. I didn't feel like I got all of it out of it, but I did play a little better and moved up a little bit. I hit it better than I scored." Isban's game was frustrated by slow play that took him out of his rhythm. Some golfers were on the course for nearly six hours. Wilkinson, who now lives in San Antonio, had to play in the toughest conditions of the day because of his late tee time, but persevered for a 70. Wilkinson won state championships at Clay in 1994 and 1995 and enjoyed a stellar career at LSU from 1996-2000. Turning pro, Wilkinson won several National Golf Association tournaments, beating Sergio Garcia in one, and finished sixth in the money on the Hooters Tour in 2001. He missed earning his PGA card by one shot one year and by three shots another year. Then, Wilkinson struggled with his game and ended up taking a year-and-a-half off. He decided to get back in the game in 2007. "This is only my fifth tournament of the year," Wilkinson said. "I really haven't had any results I've been happy with, but I still have done a number of things with my ball striking that I feel positive about. It's just a matter of me keep plugging away and keep putting in the work." Darrow's highlight included an eagle on the second hole. He drove the ball about 325 yards and then knocked in an eight-footer. ORION GROUP GOLF CLASSICAt Blackthorn Golf Club7,136 yards, Par 72 Kevin Ward 70-65 -- 135 -9 Matthew Harmon 68-68 -- 136 -8 Shawn Stefani 66-70 -- 136 -8 Niall Turner 69-68 -- 137 -7 Sean McTernan 69-68 -- 137 -7 Andrew Tschudin 68-69 -- 137 -7 Luke List 66-71 -- 137 -7 Matthew Rosenfeld 66-71 -- 137 -7 Ernie Rose 69-69 -- 138 -6 Chris Wilson 67-72 -- 139 -5 Ian Hessels 70-70 -- 140 -4 Scott Stallings 72-68 -- 140 -4 Andrew Ruthkoski 71-69 -- 140 -4 Aaron Clark 68-72 -- 140 -4 Bryce Ledford 72-68 -- 140 -4 Andrew Dresser 71-69 -- 140 -4 Kevin Hall 69-72 -- 141 -3 Marvin King 72-69 -- 141 -3 Mark Blakefield 69-72 -- 141 -3 Jay Reynolds 71-70 -- 141 -3 Ed McGlasson 72-69 -- 141 -3 Brandon Smart 70-71 -- 141 -3 Jonathon Novak 72-69 -- 141 -3 Tyler Leon 73-68 -- 141 -3 Justin Smith 72-69 -- 141 -3 Matthew Torrance 72-69 -- 141 -3 Tim Streng 71-70 -- 141 -3 Jamie Broce 71-70 -- 141 -3 Jesse Hutchins 72-70 -- 142 -2 Chris Naegel 70-72 -- 142 -2 Nick Rousey 71-71 -- 142 -2 Parker LaBerge 73-69 -- 142 -2 Simon Nash 70-72 -- 142 -2 Cole Isban 72-70 -- 142 -2 Bronson La'Cassie 69-73 -- 142 -2 Neal Grusczynski 69-73 -- 142 -2 Russell Knox 72-71 -- 143 -1 Joe Deraney 76-67 -- 143 -1 Matt Schall 68-75 -- 143 -1 Andrew Stephens 78-65 -- 143 -1 Matthew Kohn 71-72 -- 143 -1 Rodney Butcher 74-69 -- 143 -1 Jack Tyler, III 74-69 -- 143 -1 Brandon Brown 75-68 -- 143 -1 Jeremy Wilkinson 73-70 -- 143 -1 Blaine Peffley 71-73 -- 144 E Andrew S. Medley 72-72 -- 144 E Kyle Vassel 73-71 -- 144 E Lee Wilson 71-73 -- 144 E Adam Darrow 74-70 -- 144 E Jon David Kennedy 71-73 -- 144 E Scott Feaster 71-73 -- 144 E Matthew Anderson 74-70 -- 144 E Blake Sattler 74-70 -- 144 E Brian Carroll 75-69 -- 144 E Joe Larson 71-73 -- 144 E Shawn Warren 71-73 -- 144 E Kevin Larsen 70-75 -- 145 +1 Garrett Jones 75-70 -- 145 +1 Michael Daniels 71-74 -- 145 +1 Charlie Waddell 69-76 -- 145 +1 Tyrone Mordt 78-67 -- 145 +1 Steve Gilley 75-70 -- 145 +1 Casey Crain 71-74 -- 145 +1 James Vargas 75-70 -- 145 +1 Justin Walters 76-69 -- 145 +1 Dillon Dougherty 74-71 -- 145 +1 Other Area Golfers Who Did Not Make Cut Mat Blair 72-74 -- 146 +2 Keith Pasqualone II 80-77 -- 157 +13 David Schultz 79-78 -- 157 +13 Billy Bridwell 76-83 -- 159 +15 Justin McCuddy 85-78 -- 163 +19